In April, 20 middle school students from schools across the greater Beaverton area gathered at the Arts and Communication Magnet Academy (ACMA) for the first-ever Beaverton Civics Bee. Hosted by the Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce, the Civics Bee challenged 6th through 8th graders to demonstrate their knowledge of civics and then take it a step further: identify a real problem facing their local community and present a solution.
In addition to an impressive group of civic-minded students, the judges represented real leadership from across Beaverton: Beaverton City Councilor Edward Kimmi, Beaverton School Board Director Dr. Van Truong, and Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce Board Director Nina Carlson with NW Natural. After two rounds of multiple choice competition, the top five finalists presented their proposed solutions to the judges. “It was an honor to serve as a judge and proudly celebrate these students for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to civic learning. Their thoughtful engagement and passion for making a difference reflect the promise of the next generation of leaders,” reflected Dr. Truong. First place and $500 went to a student from Riverdale Grade School, with second place ($250) earned by a student from Beaverton Academy of Science and Engineering (BASE), and third place ($125) claimed by a student from the French International School of Oregon.
“The Civics Bee was an amazing opportunity to invite students to engage in their communities in such a meaningful way. They stepped up to the challenge, and I was impressed by the thoughtful ideas they shared on how to solve problems in their communities and how well they answered civics questions that stumped many of the adults in the room,” shared Katelynn Jensma, Deputy CEO, Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce.
Beaverton Education Foundation was proud to partner with the Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce to connect teachers, students, and business and community leaders around something that matters: preparing young people to be informed, engaged members of the community. This is exactly the kind of opportunity our Beaverton students deserve and the student-engaged experience BEF exists to support. Don’t worry if you missed this year’s event because Jensma says the Chamber is already planning to bring the Civics Bee back in 2027.